Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Puerto Rico suspends $133M post-hurricane housing contract
Source: Associated Press
Puerto Rico suspends $133M post-hurricane housing contract
By DANICA COTO, ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Feb 14, 2018, 4:46 PM ET
Puerto Rico's Housing Department said Wednesday it will suspend a $133 million deal with a U.S. company hired to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Maria because a review board found the contract was improperly awarded.
The department's contractor review board published a ruling on Tuesday that New York-based Adjusters International received the contract, which was subsidized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, though it did not meet several requirements.
Eric Perez-Ochoa, an attorney for Adjusters International, said in a statement that the company complied with all requirements and is studying the board's decision, adding that it was "deeply disappointed." He said thousands of Puerto Ricans were enrolled in the home repairs program and that crews were conducting nearly 1,500 home inspections a day, with 700 Puerto Ricans helping out. He said the company offered a savings of more than $20 million compared with the other proposal.
"This decision puts that progress at risk and may cost Puerto Rico more money," he said.
-snip-
By DANICA COTO, ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Feb 14, 2018, 4:46 PM ET
Puerto Rico's Housing Department said Wednesday it will suspend a $133 million deal with a U.S. company hired to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Maria because a review board found the contract was improperly awarded.
The department's contractor review board published a ruling on Tuesday that New York-based Adjusters International received the contract, which was subsidized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, though it did not meet several requirements.
Eric Perez-Ochoa, an attorney for Adjusters International, said in a statement that the company complied with all requirements and is studying the board's decision, adding that it was "deeply disappointed." He said thousands of Puerto Ricans were enrolled in the home repairs program and that crews were conducting nearly 1,500 home inspections a day, with 700 Puerto Ricans helping out. He said the company offered a savings of more than $20 million compared with the other proposal.
"This decision puts that progress at risk and may cost Puerto Rico more money," he said.
-snip-
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/puerto-rico-suspends-133m-post-hurricane-housing-contract-53087713